A Final Four dream to keep alive: at PalaEnergica Bertram seeks the 1-1 point in the BCL quarterfinals with Tenerife. Squarcina's words
It's not a game like any other. In many ways, it's THE game. The one to win at all costs to continue the adventure in the Champions League quarterfinals. Game 2 against La Laguna Tenerife, scheduled for 18:30 p.m. tomorrow, Wednesday 16 April, at the PalaEnergica Paolo Ferraris in Casale Monferrato, represents the opportunity for Bertram Derthona Tortona to think big in a prestigious context, with qualification for the Final Four in the background. A large crowd is expected to beat one of the strongest European teams of the season and force them to the "final" the following Wednesday on the Canary Island. The feat seems more within reach after what was seen exactly a week ago in game 1 in Tenerife, where the team coached by Walter De Raffale came within a whisker of conquering the parquet of the dominator of the current edition of the BCL, winning only in overtime by 93-89 after having seen from very close the spectre of the first European defeat in thirteen games played.
IMITATE... REAL The Canary Islands arrive in Casale three days after facing a top-seeded clash with Real Madrid, against whom coach Txus Vidorreta's team was playing for a chance to overtake them at the top of the table after 27 rounds. Real Madrid instead prevailed on the island 79-68, leading the match from start to finish by wide margins at times, snapping a 10-game winning streak in the league for the yellow-and-blacks, who hadn't lost since January 12, the date of the first leg against Real Madrid. To once again threaten a team that has always been a member of the BCL nobility, having won it twice (2017, 2022) and reached the final twice more (2019 and 2024), the black-and-whites will have to once again outdo themselves to try to write even more into the competition's history books. We need to win Game 2 and then give it our all in Tenerife to book our ticket to the Final Four on May 9-11. The dream, long cherished at the "Santiago Martin" in San Cristobal de La Laguna, must be rekindled and then made a splendid reality in Game 3.
WHERE TO WATCH IT ON TV The race will be streamed live on DAZN.
STATEMENTS “It's obvious that we're more aware of our ability to beat Tenerife after coming really close at their home,” says assistant coach Iacopo Squarcina . "The important thing is not to turn this awareness into superficiality. We must always maintain a high level of concentration, not think that it's easier at home. Indeed, to an even greater extent, we will have to show a performance in which we attack their weaknesses consistently and clearly, knowing that their quality is truly high. Therefore, we will have to be able to respond 360 degrees, offensively and defensively, individually and as a team. The main adjustments compared to Game 1, " he continues, " will be related to limiting their ability to pass the ball, therefore managing to not make their ball-sharing so fluid. While offensively, we will have to manage, despite the fatigue and the period, to increase the pace a bit and find baskets that give us energy and enthusiasm to the crowd. Then, be solid in the midcourt in attacking the main targets without getting carried away by the game, by the fact of taking a hasty shot, by thinking that it's an important game and we have to show off. Instead, no, we must keep our heads down, try to tire out their points. Huertas and Shermadini are key players, and we also need to make sure we don't miss out on the great array of shooters they have at their disposal. It'll be an important closeout game, a battle for rebounds. We need to stay strong mentally and muster all our energy because we're really eager to return to Tenerife."
